On March 28, 2025, the government issued a decree (No. 36/2025), introducing immediate restrictions on Italian citizenship by descent (jure sanguinis). This created a massive impact in the migration sphere as instantly a large segment of would-be applicants had their right to European citizenship culled.
Only children and grandchildren of Italian nationals can now apply. This replaces the long-standing policy that allowed descendants tracing back to 1861 to claim Italian citizenship.
The law was formally enacted by Parliament on May 20, 2025, despite objections from Italian diaspora groups. The policy shift marks a decisive change in how Italy defines nationality and has implications for mobility, migration law, and residency-based migration strategies.
What has changed in Italian citizenship by descent?
Historically applicants could qualify for Italian citizenship by descent based purely on documentation of ancestry, regardless of their generational distance from the Italian-born ancestor. This also included former Italian citizens who had lost their nationality through naturalization in another country, such as the United States. The system offered broad access to global descendants, particularly in countries with large Italian diaspora populations.
However, a legal reform introduced in March and enacted into law on May 20, 2025 now limits eligibility to the children and grandchildren of Italian nationals. Applicants must demonstrate a closer familial connection, and the provisions for reacquiring citizenship after naturalization have been narrowed. These changes were reportedly introduced in response to a surge in applications and increased administrative pressure on consulates and local authorities
Why has the Meloni administration implemented these changes?
The Meloni administration cited three main reasons:
- Application Backlog: Over 60,000 pending files, primarily from Latin America, overloaded consular systems.
- Mobility Loopholes: Applicants were securing Italian passports for visa-free access to the United States and Europe, often with no intention of residing in Italy.
- Security Concerns: The Trump administration raised concerns about Latin Americans using Italian passports to enter the United States and overstaying.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated, “The granting of citizenship must not be used to take holidays in Miami.”
The reform also reflects the priorities of Italy’s current leadership, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aligned ideologically with Trump on migration and sovereignty.
What are the repercussions for the Italian Diaspora?
The reform has affected an estimated 20 million Italian Americans, many of whom had gathered documentation and legal support to submit claims. Advocacy organizations such as the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) lobbied hard against the decree but were only partially successful.
Key concessions include:
- Applications already in process as of March 28, 2025, will be assessed under the old rules.
- Former citizens who lost Italian nationality due to U.S. naturalization before 1992 may still reclaim it.
However, for the majority of great-grandchildren and further descendants, the path has closed permanently.
A strategic shift from ancestry to residency-based programs
The closure of this broad citizenship-by-descent route has accelerated interest in Italy’s formal residency programs, particularly among high-net-worth individuals and retirees.
1. Italian Investor Visa
This visa grants a two-year residency to individuals who invest in one of the following:- EUR 250,000 in an innovative start-up
- EUR 500,000 in an Italian company
- EUR 1 million in a philanthropic project
- EUR 2 million in government bonds
It offers flexibility and visa-free Schengen access, with a pathway to long-term residency and eventual citizenship after ten years. Previously overlooked by those eligible via ancestry, the Italian Investor Visa is now a viable option for global families seeking Italian or EU ties.
2. Elective Residency Visa
This option is designed for financially self-sufficient individuals with passive income. Applicants must demonstrate an annual income of at least EUR 31,000 and commit to residing in Italy without engaging in employment.It is particularly attractive to retirees, remote workers, and lifestyle migrants, including Americans and Latin Americans, who had previously planned to secure Italian citizenship through ancestry.
Will other citizenship by descent programs add restrictions?
Italy’s move may set a precedent for other nations offering citizenship by descent.
As immigration patterns evolve and governments respond to both geopolitical pressures and domestic concerns about national identity and migration policy, many may begin reassessing the scope and sustainability of citizenship by descent programs.
Countries with large diaspora populations such as Ireland, Poland, and Greece may begin to reconsider the viability of offering citizenship through ancestral ties, particularly if application surges strain consular capacity or raise security concerns.
As a result, routes that require demonstrable ties to the country whether through long-term residency, cultural integration, or direct economic contribution such as investor visas, are becoming central to global migration planning. This shift reflects a broader trend of countries moving away from offering citizenship purely based on ancestry and instead prioritizing applicants who can demonstrate a meaningful connection to the country.
Advisors, legal practitioners, and wealth planners will need to adapt quickly to these shifts, offering clients forward-looking solutions that reflect a more regulated and connection-based path to long-term settlement and, eventually, citizenship.
